Cops, sheriffs: Surplus military equipment saves lives, Trump praised

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, right, is applauded at the Fraternal Order of Police convention Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Sessions said President Donald Trump will revive a program that provides local police departments with surplus military equipment such as high-caliber weapons and grenade launchers. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

The nation's police and sheriffs are applauding President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions for reversing former President Obama's ban on delivering surplus military equipment to state and local law enforcement.

"Across the country we have seen how valuable this equipment has been to local law enforcement from San Bernardino to Orlando in fighting terrorism but also by saving lives in floods in South Carolina and snow storms in North Dakota, just to name a few," said the National Sheriffs' Association.

"By reinstating this program the president will provide more resources to local law enforcement to keep their communities safe without any additional cost to the taxpayer. This has been a top priority for America's Sheriffs, so we praise President Trump and Attorney General Sessions for delivering on this important initiative," it said after Sessions announced Trump's plan to kill an Obama executive order putting the ban in place.

The Fraternal Order of Police agreed. "As a candidate for president, Mr. Trump pledged to rescind these restrictions and Attorney General Sessions delivered on that promise today," said the group. Sessions announced the change at a speech to the FOP.

Obama placed the ban after receiving complaints about the military equipment being used in the Ferguson, Mo., riots in August 2014.

The FOP hit that decision on Monday. "The previous administration was more concerned about the image of law enforcement being too ‘militarized' than they were about safety," said FOP.

The equipment sheriffs receive through this program include equipment they could not otherwise afford including additional bullet-proof vests and Kevlar helmets, upgraded safety equipment, as well as larger equipment such as helicopters and robotics.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com